A Dual-Stage 15 GHz GaN Power Amplifier Using Capacitive Cross-Coupling Neutralization Technique

This paper presents a 15 GHz dual-stage push-pull neutralized PA using a 150nm GaN process. The neutralization network is implemented using cross-coupled capacitors which help in increasing the gain. Marchand baluns are used at the input and output of the PA to achieve the differential architecture with 50Ω at all the ports. Compact LC matching networks are implemented to achieve the desired performance at 15GHz. The total size of the dual-stage PA MMIC is 3x1.6 mm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>. The DSPA demonstrates an output power of 39dBm with a PAE of 48% and a gain of around 32dB at 15GHz.